Lest we forget: Asiya and Neelofar – 2009 Shopian Rape and Murder Case

They walked down the lanes and by lanes. Passed by green lush fields. Flowers smiled at them. Birds sung the melodious tunes. None knew about their destiny not even them but only the barbaric hands of evil forces. The gushing waters of Rambi Ara Nallah welcomed them. The Nallah waters wavered upon seeing the untouched beauty forgetting its pristine waters and beautiful shores. The orchards lashed and tossed its branches to touch the umpteen beauty walking besides it. The leaves had a free fall as if committing suicide to kiss the soil where their feet touched the ground.

Suddenly, evil forces came from nowhere as if the devils have fallen from the skies, emerged from nowhere. Poor chirping birds turned their eyes away as they cannot bear the inhumane gestures of the devils. Their songs faded away. Apple trees drooped their branches in shame. Skies cried their heart out as two innocent souls were about to get crumbled at the hands of cruel devils. The ground on which their pious feet usually had a walk, wanted to open up and give them space in their heart. The Rambi Ara Nallah waters gushed in anger, pain and gloom. Its waters wished if it can increase the water level to hide this untouched beauty in its lap. Oh! But the cruel hands were more powerful than all these nature’s creations. Orchards, birds, stream, soil and even the skies cannot do anything. They acted as mute spectators not daring to see the things but only to hear the shrieks and cries.

Chastity got torn apart. Innocent pious souls cried, struggled, screamed but no one heard. Their cries as if fell on deaf ears. The evil forces went on and on. Humanity was dead. No one heard the shrieks but evilness prevailed. The stream of Rambi Ara wanted to hold them in their bosom, but couldn’t. The devils even ripped apart the dead. Natures wept over the chaste souls.

Justices, Ministries, Kings all failed rather failed the chaste woman. In one way, they also blamed the chastity of these pious souls. Flowers got crumbled and justices laughed. Dead were ripped apart and Ministries were seen passing a sheepish grin. Surroundings mourned for months. Masses wept over this inhumane act but the evil forces never felt ashamed. Kings said, O! Why the hue and cry? ‘Whores’ are not that pious! Authorities said, “Suicides are not rare”. Commissions reiterated, “It is a case of drowning”. Yes, 1.5-2 feet deep stream and a case of drowning.

Someone asked, “Wounds, injuries and brutal marks on private parts are not handiwork of the waters of the stream”. Humanity failed and case got closed. Hence proved. Kings will remain kings. It was a case of drowning.

I once passed by the stream. I spit on its face. It absorbed my spit and said wish I could have absorbed the bodies of those chaste woman but see my waters are shallow. I heard, the waters weeping day and night, ashamed of its fault. The orchards, I saw were still with their drooped branches. Birds were never seen flying over that spot. No human ear has listened them chirping after that shameful incident.

Oh! The husband and the brother, was wailing as the whole surroundings wailed with him. The little adorable boy, was frightened not knowing as if what has happened. He was clueless. Tears trickled over his chubby cheeks, calling his mom. Mama, where are you? He cried. These cries made masses mad. They wept like kids. Broken, shattered, gloomy environs made it nauseating but the evil forces were left as if some heavenly bodies have committed the crime and left. As if they cannot be tried in any worldly Justices.

I still remember the little Suzanne’s words, “Please take me to my Mom” While as the his mom and Aunt were resting beneath the sod. I heard the cries coming from the grave. Please take care of my son and my family. Please, don’t forget us and don’t forgive them. We are your sisters. Remember, we were raped and murdered by the men in uniform. Never forget, today it is us and tomorrow it can be your sisters. So, fight back and drive away the evil forces from the land of saints. Please while seeking justice for us- Asiya and Neelofar, remember we have Kunanposhpora and other raped and molested sisters also. Remember and forget not. Though if you forget, we will not forgive you. On the day of judgment, we will grab you by your collars and will seek justice there in front of the Almighty. Better, not to forget us. Hey, I am talking to you, my Kashmir murmured the voice beneath the sod. A cry. I am your sister Asiya. I am your sister Neelofar.

Foot Note: Shopian rape and murder case refers to the alleged abduction, rape and murder of two young women in mysterious circumstances between 29th and 30th May 2009 at Bongam, Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir. Two women who were sisters-in-law went missing from their orchard on the way home on 29th June 2009. Next day morning their bodies were found both one kilometer apart. Later it got cleared that both the women were gangraped and murdered by the men in uniform.
Neelofar Jan, age 22, wife of Shakeel Ahmed Ahangar and mother of two-year-old son, Suzzane. Aasiya Jan, age 17, daughter of Abdul Gani Ahangar. She had secured distinction in her matriculation exams in previous year and was pre-medical student of New Greenland Higher Senior Secondary School in Alialpora, Shopian. Neelofar was Aasiya’s sister-in-law and both were resident of Bongam in Shopian.

The process was followed by commissions, reports, protests, undeclared curfew but to no avail. At last, the officials declared the rape and murder as a case of drowning and closed the file, with the family of victims still waiting for justice.

Source: https://ibnizaraa r.wordpress.com/2013/06/20/lest-we-forget-asiya-and-neelofar-2009-shopian-rape-and-murder-case/